Toboggan



N. TUFTS Jan. 9, 1945.

TOBOGGAN 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb.u 2, 1942 INVENTOR. /VAHA/v /FTS NQTuF-rs Jan. 9, 1945'.

TOBOGGAN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 2, 1942 Patented Jan. 9, 1945 UNITED vs'rlsrlszs PAT ENT OFFICE TooGGAN vNathan Tufts, Greenfeld,Mass., assignor to The New Englandox Company, Greenfield, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application February 2, 194,2,.Serial No. 429,145

` 7 claims. aso-+18) This invention relates to improvements in toboggans.

Asheretofore regularly constructed, toboggans have been formed as one rigid structure with kno relative movement between its several parts,

except for a possiblevyielding of the material itself. This yielding of the material has been but slight, furthermore, due to the provision of vhand-rails at the sidesV of the toboggan, and` other stilfening members. The, conventional to boggan has been dangerous to use under many circumstances ybecause of the inability'to direct orv steer it. On crowded slopes or` toboggan slides, collisions are frequent and accidents, ofv

more or less serious character, loften occur when deep pits or other hazards are situated adjacent a. course intended to be followed by a toboggan. Onlythe most skillful maneuvering can 'avoid these hazards and most personswho engagein the sport of tobogganing do not` have this requisite'skill. f a Furthermore, toboggans as previouslyL constructed have had an objectionable tendency to throw snow or chunks of ice into thefaces of the riders. This is because the curvature or roll of the forward end' of the toboggan is extended through at least a semis-circular arc. As aresult, any loose snow encountered in the descent of the toboggan will pass over the rolled end and will :be thrown rearwardly onto theocc'upants.'

A primary object of the` present invention has More particularly it relates to an improved, steerable type of toboggan. y

number of layers, such as three, ve, or more,

depending uponthe stiffness and strength desired.- Various advantages arise from the use of plywood. The plywood conforms readily with the bumps encountered in sliding down a hill A and thus insures a smooth sliding action with been to provide a toboggan of simple and light y construction which iscapable of being steered or directed in itsV descent'along a slope or slide.

Toward this end the improved toboggan is formed in a plurality of sections sojoined as to be capable of limited-pivotal movement with respect to each other in a horizontal direction, i. e., in the plane of the vsliding surface of the toboggan. Some flexibility is alsoprovided ybetween the sections in a vertical direction. This .permits the toboggan to ride with relative ease and smoothness over bumpy terrain. As a result of the dirigibility of the improved construction, it Ais much safer in use than prior' toboggans. At the same time suiilcient skill is required in handling it to retain the zest of the sport.

A further object of theinvention has been to.

devise a construction at theforward' end ofthe toboggan vwhich will overcome, orv atleast mini-v mize, the tendency of prior devices of this character to throw snow intothe faces ofthe riders. For this purpose the forward section of the tol tion between the sections of the toboggan, and

ar minimum' of jolts. Due to the lightness of the device as a whole, it may easily be towed or carried uphill. Moreover, the several sections may be readily disconnected for shipping purposes or even for conveying the toboggan to the desired point of use in an ordinary passenger automobile. The `construction is strong, even though light in weight, and is relatively inexpensive. The bottom surface of the plywood lends itself to either. sticky or fast kwax for con- ;trol of lits speed on different types of snow or ice.

Other objects, features and advantagesof the invention will appear from a detailed description: of an illustrative form of the same which vwill now be given in conjunction" with the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Fig. 1is a top plan view of an illustrative of the improved toboggan.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the toboggan. Fig. 3 is an enlarged.cross-sectionalView along the broken line 3-3 of Fig. l, portions being broken out at the points indicated.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

form

Fig. 5 is a'detail view in section along the line.

5-5of Fig-4, looking in the direction ofthe arrows,` showing a portionofthe swivel connec- Fig. 6 is a similar, enlarged detail View in section along the line 6-6 of Fig. 4, taken in the ldirection indicated vby the arrows.

Referring now tothe drawings, the improved toboggan may consist of two sections designated generally by the reference numerals I0 and Il. The rear section Il) is somewhat longer than the forward section l I. In a typicalaunit the'rear section may be 3 feet long and the forward secending transversely of the toboggan. This sec- 'ends terminate somewhat in rear of' the reinplywood, preferably of three layers, the top and bottom layers having the grain extendinglongitudinally of lthe section. This tends to `stiften the construction against curling upwardly at the ends. At each side of the main body portion is provided a top rail I3 which may be secured by rivets I4 or otherwise to the plywood.r These rails add to the rigidity of the construc` tion and provide hand grasp's for the occupants i5 of the toboggan. If desired, special handles, formed of web material or the like, may be secured to the rear section at appropriate points to serve as hand grips. These may be secured by portions extending beneath the top rails or by separate rivets. In' a typical unit the top rails may be about 3A of an inch wide and half an inch deep. They'are preferably formed of good hardwood, although, if desired, they may be formed of other material, such as metal or the 525 like. At the rearv end of the section III a cross member I5 is provided, this being similarly secured by rivets IB', or the like, to the main plywood body. This rear reinforcing member or rail may, if desired, be simply of the same widthi@ and depthV as the side rails but it is preferably of somewhat heavier construction. It may,` for example, be about 3a of an inch deep and 11/2 inches wide and may' be formed of the same materials as the side rails. On its under side, it isil preferably rabbe'ted, as indicated at I5a in Fig. 2, to provide a rear portion which overhangs the rear edge of the plywood body to protect the latter. This places the top surface of the member I5 ush with the tops of the side rails I3. At'its forward end the section I0 is reinforced on its upper surface by a cross strip I1 of plywood of the same character as the main body portion I2 4but preferably having the grain extion may be 6 or 8 inches Wide, i. e., lengthwise of the toboggan, and preferably extends beneath the side rails I3 at both sides. These rails, for this purpose, are under-cut slightly at their forward ends. If desired, the cross strip could be applied to the under surface rather than the top surface of the main body I2. Any suitable means, such as rivets I8, may be provided for securing the reinforcing strip to the main body. It serves not only to reinforce the forward end of the rear section in the region where swiveling takes place but it also stiife'ns this end against bending ina transverse direction.

On the under side of the main plywood body I2, and preferably at its edges directly beneath the top rails I3, there is provided a pair of runners I9 which may be secured to the plywood body by the saine rivets I4 which secure the top rails. The runners are preferably recessed or counter-sunk tol receive the heads of the rivets, o5 the construction being such that nothing projects downwardly below the sliding surfaces of the runners. The runners extend all the way to the rear end of the section I0 but at their forward forcing section I1. This isv to avoid interference with the swiveling action of the section II. The forwardends 20 of the runners are preferably beveled on their undersides, as indicated in Fig.2.

The forward section II of the toboggan has its 75 main body 2l similarly formed of three-ply, water-proof plywood but the grain of the top and bottom layers in this section is extended transversely of the length of the toboggan `to enable the plywood to be readily bent into the curvature indicated in Fig. 2. This curvature is of substantial radius but extends over an arc of less than 90 so that the tendency ofthe entire forward portion is to throw loose snow and ice downwardly and to pack it beneath the toboggan, thus forming a track over which the balance of the toboggan may readily glide. At

-the side edges of the section II there are pro vided top rails 22 of a construction similar to the top `rails I3 jbut having their forward ends curved ,upwardly to conform with the curvature of the main body 2l. Rivets 23, or other securing means, maybe provided for fastening the tcp rails to the body 2|. The forward ends of the rails 22 preferably extend to the extreme forward'end of the section II but the rear ends 24' terminate some distance in advance of the rear edge of the section II. This, as indicated in Figs. `1 'and 2, provides a clearance from the forward end of the section IIJ and enables the desired, relative angling movements between the two sections. At the forward end of the section II 'a transversely extending member 25 is provided, this having a rabbeted portion 2S which receives the endf of the main body 2l. Member 25 thusv serves the double function of reinforcing and stiifening the forward end of the section II and of protecting the free edge of the plywood. The top of the member I I in advance of the rabbeted vportion is preferably iiush with the surface oi thefbody 2I` and at its extreme ends underlies the top` rails 22. At the rear end of the' section II ar transversely extending strip 21 of plywood, similar to the strip I1 on the rear section, is provided. Thisserves to reinforce and stiifen the constructionat the point of swiveling. Runners 28 are provided at the two side edges of the section II, these being curved at their forward ends to conform' with the main body ZI. They areA preferably secured to the latter by the rivets 23, which Amay be counter-sunk in a'nianner similar to the4 rivets I4. vThe forward ends'of the runners may abutfagainst the edge of the member 25.

We come nowto the connections between the two 'sections whichpermit the swivel action previously described. A metal plate 28 (Fig. 5), preferably of circular form, is secured to the top of the forward section II of the toboggan by means of rivets 30, or the like. This plate is located centrally of the transverse reinforcing strip 21 and, in the typical construction, may be, say, 3 or 4 inches in diameter. At its center it is provided with an aperture 3l. Intermediate the center and the circumference of the plate, it is provided with two or more upward projections 32 equally spaced, these preferably being of Veshaped or'arcuate cross-section in a radial vdirection and being simply, struck up from the main body of the disc. The ends of these struck- `up projections preferably provide radially extending shoulders.. A- substantially similar plate 33 (Fig. 6) is secured by rivets 34 vto the under surface of the rear section I0 of the toboggan. This plate, which -is'of the saine diameter as the plate 29, is positioned centrally of the transverse reinforcing strip I1. A central aperture 35 through the plate 33 is adapted to be alined with the aperture 3| ofthe plate' 29 and with corresponding 'apertures through the plywood asume? members .51:21. and .l1 .--At the opposite: sides of imei aperture "#35 .arcuate depressions ist'Y are canned.v in: the plate 33, these Apemg ladapted to receive 'the project-innen of the'p-late 29; They are wAshaped or arcuate-:in radial` cross section,

. eral principles and scope `of ythe invention. The `'terms and expressions used herein have been l employed as terms of .description and not of limlas indicated ariandarranged 'to snugly f :receive--and )guide the projections 321 rthe balance of the I'a'iijacent,y faces vof Athe vtwo 'plates 5in v.substantially full. surface .icon-tact. 'Depressions 35 are of substantiallyJgreaterflength than widthlfo the projections 32, so as to permit the latter to slide through'a desired arc of movement. This may be sufficient to permit the forward section to angle through an arc of about 10 or 15?in either direction horizontally with respect to the rear section I Il of the toboggan. The ends 38 of the depressions are preferably radial andthe engagement therewith of the ends 31 of projections 32 will positively limit the relative angling movement between the sections. As

best shown in Fig. 4, the plywood of the main Plate 39 is likewise'provided with a central aperture 40 alined with the apertures .3| and 35. A boltv 4| has its head 42 held against turning in a square recess formed in the plywood body 2| of the forward section beneath the plate 20 that the forward section of the toboggan may turn freely with relation to the rear section through anangle of between 10 andy 15 in either direction. This is adequate for the desired steering purposes. i Thelimiting means, however, def-V initely prevent any attempt to make a turn sharper than that which the toboggan is capable of negotiating properly. In making' a turn, it is necessary or desirable to throw ones weight toward the side of the toboggan forming the inside itation.

'What I claim is: v .l 1f. l-A toboggan comprising lav plurality ofalined, 'separable sections arranged iin Stan-dem, keach of saiid sections extending substantially the full of said toboggan and Ibei-ng for-med of thin .wood larranged for a-t surface engagement with the snow and having longitudinally extending cleats along the side edges thereof,r and swivel means connecting'said sections directly together for relative horizontal angling.

2. A toboggan comprising a plurality of alined, separable sections arranged in tandem, each of said sections extending substantially the full width of'said toboggan and being formed primarily of plywoodarranged for flat surface engagement with the snow and having hardwood runners extending along the longitudinal edges thereof, and swivel means connecting said sections directly together for relative horizontal angling. 3. A toboggan comprising a plurality of alined,

"separable sections arranged in tandem, each of said sections extending substantially the full width of said toboggan and being formed primarily of plywood arranged for at surface engagement with the snow and having hardwood runners extending along the longitudinal edges thereof, the grain of the outer layers of plywood of the turn, thus requiring a certain amount of skill and imparting a corresponding thrill to the ride. Turning of the forward section is accomplished with comparative ease, since the only contact between the two sections is that pro- Y vided between the adjacent surfaces of the plates 29 and 33. If desired, heavy grease may be provided between these surfaces to reduce the friction. Enough play is provided between the connection in the two sections to permit a slight vertical tilting of the forward section I I withrespect to the rear section lll as the toboggan slides overY in the forward section extending transversely thereof and in the rear section extending longi tudinally thereof, and swivel means connecting said sections directly together for relative horizontal angling.

4. A toboggan comprising a plurality of alined, separable sections arrangedr in tandem, each section extending substantially the full width of tion being formed of plywood arranged for flat surface engagement with the snow, shallow runners secureddirectly to the under faces of said main body'portions and extending longitudinally thereof, and swivel means connecting said sections directly together for relative angling moveyments in a horizontal plane.

5. A toboggan comprising a plurality of alined, separable sections arranged in tandem, each section extending substantially the full widthof the toboggan, the main body portion of each section being formed of plywood arranged for flat surface engagement with the snow, shallow runners secured directly to the under faces of said main body portions and extending longitudinally thereof, shallow rails secured directly to the upper faces of said main body portions and extending parallel with saidrunners,` and swivel means connecting said sections directly togetherA for relativev angling movements in a horizontal plane, the forward end of ythe front section being curved upwardly along a sweeping arc of less than 90.

6. A toboggan comprising a plurality of alined, separable sections arranged in tandem, the main body portion of each section being formed of plywood arranged for fiat surface engagement with the snow, shallow runners secured directly to the under faces'of said main body portions and extending longitudinally thereof, and swivel means connecting said sections for relative angling movements in a horizontal plane, said swivel means including a metal plate on'each ofv means connecting said sections for relative angling movements in a horizontal plane, said swivel means including a metal plate on each of said sections arranged to cooperate in' bearing relation with a similar plate on another section, said plates having cooperating formations adapted to limit relative angling between said sections, each of said sections being reinforced by a transversely extending, extra layer of plywood in the l0 region of said plates.

NATI-IAN TUFI'S. 

